Hemming Park renaming under debate by City Council

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The renaming of Hemming Park is under debate following Monday’s Neighborhood, Community Services, Public Health & Safety Committee.

Council member Garrett Dennis sponsored a bill that would rename Hemming Park to James Weldon Johnson Park, as a tribute to the Jacksonville native who was a civil rights activist, a leader of the NAACP, and was the writer of the song “Lift Every Voice and Sing”. The bill was filed in June, shortly after the Hemming Park Statues was taken down.

However, Council member Danny Becton suggested in yesterday’s meeting that they instead change the name to Veterans Memorial Park. He did not want to vote for a renaming of a park that would be named after a person. He instead said that by renaming the park after veterans, it would honor those who go every day to City Hall for the veterans affairs division.

Many of the members of the committee were split by the suggestion.

Council member Ju’Coby Pittman, a co-sponsor of the bill, said she was torn because she is an advocate for veterans and when she initially supported the renaming, there were no other options available.

“He is a giant and the veterans have been on the front lines for all of us, so right now, I’m torn,” Pittman said. “I’m really torn and I don’t like being in this position.”

Council member Terrance Freeman’s thoughts were along the same as Pittman’s. He didn’t want to vote for the renaming the park after Johnson if it seemed like he didn’t support Jacksonville’s veterans.

Council member Rory Diamond was in favor of both the renaming after Johnson and renaming in honor of Jacksonville’s veterans. On Tuesday, Diamond tweeted that he met with the veterans who were advocating with the renaming of the park to Veterans Memorial Park. He said that he was able to compromise with the groups that they could rename the park after both. Diamond plans on submitting an amendment to Dennis’ bill that would rename the park to James Weldon Johnson Park and add a Veterans Memorial Plaza within the park with the inclusion of the different service branch flags.

“This is a great path forward to honor James Weldon Johnson, perhaps Jacksonville’s most famous citizen, and to recognize our veterans,” Diamond said in a press release. “I want to thank these incredible leaders of our veterans community here in Jacksonville for their incredible leadership this morning and their love for our community.”

Those who Diamond lists are in favor of the plaza and the renaming include the founder of Veterans 4 Veterans, Robert Adelhelm, Chairman of Mission United Northeast Florida, Dan Bean, President of Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1046, Anthony D’Aleo, President of the Semper Fidelis Society, Lynn Seckinger, and the Chairman of the Veterans Council of Duval County, Steven Spickelmeir.

The bill has been deferred for now and in the next City Council meeting on August 11, Dennis says he plans to discharge the bill from the committee. That way the bill can be voted by the council.

Cox Media Group